5th National Spice Conference 2026 to drive dialogue on Farmer Prosperity and Consumer Safety

The World Spice Organisation (WSO), the not-for-profit technical partner of the All-India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), is set to host the 5th National Spice Conference (NSC) 2026 on September 19-20, 2026, at Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre, Rajasthan. Guided by the theme “Empowering Farmers, Protecting Consumers,” the conference will bring together stakeholders from across the spice value chain to deliberate on the key issues shaping the future of India’s spice industry.

The two-day conference will feature focused business sessions, a curated exhibition showcasing technologies and indigenous agri-products, and a dedicated Buyer-Seller Meet. The conference will focus on strengthening farmer incomes, improving food safety, promoting responsible sourcing and sustainability, and enabling greater market access for farmers and FPOs.

The inaugural session will feature Mr. Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, WSO, along with Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission & Former Chairman, Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income, Government of India, Shri M. S. Manivannan IAS, Secretary, Spices Board, Smt. Manju Rajpal IAS, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Horticulture Department, Government of Rajasthan, and Mr. Ganapathy K D, Business Committee Chairman, NSC 2026. Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS, Chairman, APEDA, will deliver the keynote address on Day 2.

Speaking about the upcoming edition, Mr. Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, World Spice Organisation, said, “The National Spice Conference brings together the entire spice value chain to address the challenges that directly impact farmers and consumers. This year, our focus on farmer empowerment and consumer protection reflects the need to strengthen food safety, sustainability and market linkages while ensuring that farmers are better equipped to meet evolving market requirements.”

The inaugural day will feature sessions on Farmer Empowerment & Income Growth, Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing, Food Safety & Consumer Protection, Innovation & Future Readiness, and Farmer Challenges & Crop Outlook. Discussions will cover issues including food safety, pesticide residues, sustainable sourcing, farm-level innovation, processing and technology, and challenges faced by farmers and FPOs.

Day two will focus on Changing Regulations in Organic Farming & Certifications, the Role of FPOs in Consumer Protection and Food Safety, and Buyers’ Requirements, before concluding with a dedicated Buyer–Seller Meet aimed at strengthening market linkages and creating new opportunities for farmers and FPOs.

Over the last four editions, the National Spice Conference has grown into a key platform bringing together farmers, FPOs, processors, exporters, regulators, researchers, technology providers and other stakeholders from across the spice value chain. The 2025 edition witnessed participation from 485 delegates, reflecting the growing relevance of the conference as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and market linkages across the sector. In 2026, the conference will place greater emphasis on the link between farm-level practices, consumer safety and evolving market requirements.

The conference will also highlight innovations and emerging solutions across the spice value chain, including digital traceability, post-harvest infrastructure, farm-level technologies, testing and processing solutions, innovative warehousing and financing solutions.

The 2026 edition comes at a time when India’s spice sector is navigating evolving food safety standards, changing regulations, sustainability expectations and growing demand for traceable and quality-assured products. NSC 2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, address ground-level challenges and explore collaborative solutions for a safer, more sustainable and market-ready spice ecosystem.

About World Spice Organisation:

WSO (World Spice Organization) was established in 2011 with the objectives of achieving Food Safety and Sustainability in this sector. Over the course of the past few years, WSO has carried out many projects in the fields of Sustainability, Biodiversity and Food Safety in collaboration with prominent national and international organizations like Spices Board, Indian Institute of Spice Research (IISR), GIZ (Germany) and IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative (Netherlands).

For more information about NSC 2026 and registration details, visit: https://www.nationalspiceconference.in/

Background of National Spice Conference (NSC):

Launched in 2022, the National Spice Conference (NSC) has quickly become the premier event for the Indian spice industry. With delegate counts increasing year-on-year (293 in 2022, 345 in 2023 and 370 in 2024), NSC has become a key platform for fostering collaboration across the supply chain and promoting sustainable practices in spice production. More than 50% of participants in the previous editions were representatives of FPOs, underscoring NSC’s focus on improving market access and growth opportunities for farmers.